Why open source?

Open source has largely eaten the web. If you’re working on the web, you’re using open source software, somewhere – it’s virtually impossible to avoid. That’s because open source is a better, cheaper way to build software projects, and gets you lots of free help, too!

Or at least that’s the myth. Is it true, though? What actually makes open source tick? Is it really better? Why? Why should organizations engage with open source, especially when it’s supposed to be free, dagnabbit!

Let’s take a step back and examine just what the benefits of open source really are, and why open source is not a spectator sport.